Method and system for automatic or manual evaluation to provide targeted and individualized delivery of cosmetic actives in a mask or patch form

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for targeted and individualized delivery of multiple skin benefit agents to the skin of a user. The image of a predetermined treatment area of the user&#39;s skin is first captured by an imaging device. Selective data input from analysis tools and the end user is then analyzed by a computing device to generate a unique skin profile for the user, which is indicative of the skin conditions at the predetermined treatment area. Based on such skin profile, a printing device prints out one or more cosmetic delivery sheets that can be applied to the predetermined treatment area. Each of the cosmetic delivery sheets contains a substrate with multiple isolate, discrete regions, while at least two of the regions are imprinted with different skin benefit agents for treating different skin conditions of the predetermined treatment area according to the unique skin profile of the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a CIP of U.S. Non-Provisional patent applicationSer. No. 12/533,107 filed Jul. 31, 2009, which claims priority from U.S.61/097,273 filed Sep. 16, 2008. This application also claims priorityfrom U.S. Ser. No. 12/410,118 filed Mar. 24, 2009, which claims priorityfrom U.S. 61/097,273 filed Sep. 16, 2008 and U.S. 61/051,774, filed May9, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to method and system for achievingtargeted and individualized delivery of one or more skin benefit agentsto the skin of an user in need of such skin benefit agents, and todevices in the form of a single-use sheet for containing and deliveringthe skin benefit agents to one or more targeted areas of the skin. Inparticular, the invention relates to a method of delivering one or moreskin benefit agents to targeted areas of the facial skin of a user basedon the unique skin profile of such user and to a cosmetic sheet maskwhich incorporates one or more cosmetic or dermatological preparationsfor application to and treatment of the targeted areas of the skin ofthe user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of cosmetic patches or devices are commercially marketed ordescribed as being useful for the delivery of skin care actives such asvitamins, anti-acne actives, moisturizers, and the like. It has beenknown to use cosmetic sheets comprised of various materials, such asnon-woven cotton, elastically extendable or stretchable materials,thermoplastics, tacky gel, etc., impregnated with various cosmetic ordermatological preparations, for application to the skin of the face,the neck and other areas of the body. The cosmetic sheets comprise aflexible support adapted to conform to the target areas when applied.The sheets also contain a system for containing and delivering skinbenefit agents to the skin to which the sheet is applied. Currently,however, facial sheet masks on the market are fully impregnated withactive ingredients and are applied to the entire face so as to deliverthese ingredients to the entire face. Alternatively, a patch is appliedonly to certain areas, such as, under the eyes, to deliver the skinbenefit agent to only this locus. However, these articles sufferdrawbacks resulting in undesirable in-use characteristics as perceivedby the consumer. For example it has heretofore not been possible withknown full facial masks to target one or more specific areas with one ormore skin benefit agents, but only to treat the entire face with onecomposition. Most consumers have different concerns for their skin indifferent areas of their face. For example many consumers havecombination skin in which the T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin) isoily while the remainder of the face is dry. For another example someconsumers may have lines and wrinkles at the forehead, eye, and mouthareas, dry or flaky skin at the cheek areas, and hyper-pigmentationspots at other areas. Each region would need different treatmentproducts to address the different concerns. Conventional masks can onlyaddress one concern at a time by treating the entire facial skin, ratherthan only the targeted areas.

There is therefore a need by consumers for cosmetic sheets which candeliver multiple skin benefit agents to various targeted areas of theskin of a user to address different skin conditions of such a user basedon his or her unique skin profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cosmetic sheets according to the present invention are provided withdiscrete regions, which are imprinted with different skin benefitagents, so when such cosmetic sheets are applied to and conformed to theskin, they can accurately deliver pre-determined dosages of differentskin care formulations to the skin for treating different skinconditions or providing different skin benefits. More preferably, thecosmetic sheets of the present invention are not mass-produced like theconventional “one-type-fits-all” products, but are specificallycustomized for individual users according to their unique skin profiles.

Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect relates to a system fortargeted and individualized delivery of multiple skin benefit agents tothe skin of a user. Such system includes at least: (a) an imaging devicefor capturing an image of a desired treatment area of the user's skin;(b) means for generating a skin profile indicative of the actual orperceived conditions of the predetermined treatment area of the user'sskin; and (c) a printing device communicatively connected with theanalyzing device for printing one or more cosmetic delivery sheets,wherein the cosmetic delivery sheets are arranged and constructed forconforming to the predetermined treatment area of the user's skin,wherein each of the cosmetic delivery sheets comprises a substrate withmultiple isolate, discrete regions, wherein at least two of the isolate,discrete regions are imprinted with different skin benefit agents fortreating different skin conditions of the predetermined treatment areaaccording to the skin profile generated by the generating means.

The present invention in another aspect relates to a cosmetic deliverysheet arranged and constructed for conforming to a predeterminedtreatment area of the skin of a user. Such a cosmetic delivery sheetincludes at least a substrate with multiple isolate, discrete regions,wherein at least two of the isolate, discrete regions are imprinted withdifferent skin benefit agents for treating different skin conditions ofthe predetermined treatment area.

The present invention in a further aspect relates to a printer thatcontains cartridges filled with compositions containing skin benefitagents. Preferably, but not necessarily, such a printer is constructedto print the skin benefit agents onto a substrate through a heatlessprinting process.

The present invention in yet another aspect relates to a method fortargeted and individualized delivery of multiple skin benefit agents tothe skin of a user, which includes at least: (a) capturing an image of apredetermined treatment area of the user's skin; (b) manually orautomatically analyzing the captured image data as well as additionaldata captured via skin analysis tools and responses of the user toquestionnaires; (c) manually or automatically generating a skin profileindicative of the conditions of the predetermined treatment area of theuser's skin; and (d) printing one or more cosmetic delivery sheets basedon the generated skin profile, wherein the cosmetic delivery sheets arearranged and constructed for conforming to the predetermined treatmentarea of the user's skin, wherein each of the cosmetic delivery sheetscomprises a substrate with multiple isolate, discrete regions, whereinat least two of the isolate, discrete regions are imprinted withdifferent skin benefit agents for treating different skin conditions ofthe predetermined treatment area.

Other aspects and objectives of the present invention will become moreapparent from the ensuing description, examples, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram representing the overall systems and methods ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing further details of the imageacquisition step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing further details of one embodiment ofthe skin evaluation step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing further details of the skin evaluationsummary and the cosmetic product creation software step of the overallsystem shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing further details of the on-site oroff-site printer step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a facial mask containingmultiple isolate, discrete regions with different skin benefit agents,according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a facial mask according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of one isolate, discrete region on the facialmask of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing further details of alternativeembodiments of the skin evaluation step of the overall system shown inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of theinvention. It is contemplated that a computerized or computer-aidedsystem is used for achieving the targeted and individualized delivery ofmultiple skin benefit agents to the skin of a user based on the uniqueskin profile of the user created by manual or automatic analysis.Cosmetic delivery products produced by the system of the presentinvention are capable of delivering multiple skin benefit agents tomultiple target sections or regions on demand and according to the userskin profile with precise dosage and location control.

Preferably, such a system includes at least an imaging device forcapturing an image of the desired treatment area of the user's skin.Such desired treatment skin area may be, for example, full face, partialface, neck, thigh, or the like. In a particularly preferred but notnecessary embodiment of the present invention, the desired treatmentarea is the full face of the user. The imaging device is preferably adigital camera, which may capture the images of the desired treatmentarea in conjunction with a light source that delivers sufficient andconsistent visible or invisible light, such as white light, infraredlight or near infrared light. The imaging device can be set in either amanual or an automatic mode for identifying the desired treatment area.

The captured images are converted into digital data and stored on asuitable medium, for example, in the imaging device and/or in a computerand/or in a dedicated storage device that is permanently or selectivelycommunicatively connected with the imaging device and/or computer. Thecaptured images may be transmitted between devices as, for example,digital data, via a direct connection between the imaging device and thecomputer or storage device, or via a network, e.g., LAN, WAN, telephonicor internet network (in any form of transmission medium, e.g., coaxialcable, fiber optic cable, CAT 5 cable, cell phone, satellite or otherradio, optic or electronic transmission, etc., or manually by, forexample, transferring the captured images to a memory medium (e.g., amemory card, portable disk drive, flash drive, etc.) and transportingthe memory medium from one device to another.

The system may include means for generating a skin profile indicative ofthe various conditions in need of treatment. Preferably, the skinprofile defines skin regions with certain defects that need certaintypes of treatment. The term “defects” as used herein broadly covers anytypes of sub-optimal skin conditions, such as skin dryness, flakiness,redness, oiliness, large pores, dullness, dark spots, uneven skin tone,acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, under-eye dark circles, under-eyepuffiness, cellulite, and the like, or any types of abnormal skinconditions or disorders. More preferably, the skin profile also definesthe severity of the skin defects.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for generating a skin profileincludes computer software associated with a computing device such as apersonal computer, a central computer, or a computer server that is partof a larger computer bank or network. The computer software andassociated computing device is programmed to receive data about anindividual user, process the data and generate a customized skin profilefor that user showing various skin conditions and correspondinglocations of the skin conditions in the captured images. The samecomputer software and associated computing device and/or anothersoftware and computing device may also be programmed to generaterecommendations for treatment of the various skin conditions identifiedin the skin profile.

The means for generating a skin profile may receive data in the form ofinputs from automated data imaging or collection devices, such as, theaforementioned digital imaging device or other commercially available,stand-alone or hand-held skin imaging or analysis tools that can be usedfor diagnosing skin conditions including, for example, skin pH meters,moisture meters, elasticity meters, scope cameras, etc. Non-limitingexamples of diagnostic tools include the VISIA® Complexion Analysistools available from Canfield Scientific, Inc. (Fairfield, N.J.),spectral camera systems, thermal camera systems, laser Doppler imagingsystems, translucency meters, moisture meters, mexameters, Mexameter®MX18 available from CK Electronic (Koln, Germany), the CR series ChromaMeters available from Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A. (Ramsey,N.J.), the SIAMETRICS™ and COSMETRICS™ skin visualization andmeasurement systems available from Astron Clinica Ltd. (Cambridge,United Kingdoms), and the like.

Alternatively, or in combination with the data received from theforegoing automated imaging or analysis devices, the means forgenerating a skin profile may receive data in the form of selectiveinputs from an input device such as, for example, a keyboard or touchscreen associated with home computer, personal digital assistant (PDA),a cell phone or smart phone, a point-of-sale terminal, a kiosk, aworkstation or the like. A beauty operator would selectively enter theinputs. The beauty operator may be, for example, a skin specialist, abeauty advisor, a cosmetician, a dermatologist or a sales associateassociated with product sales or recommendation in, for example, abeauty counter environment in a brick-and-mortar type retail store.Alternatively, the beauty operator may be remotely located and accessedby a user (i.e., a consumer, a purchaser or a product end user) viaelectronic means, such as, for example, emails, text messaging, instantmessaging, chat sessions or social networking websites. In each case,the beauty operator would elicit at least some data from the end user,and conduct a visual analysis of the end user's actual appearance or animage or images submitted by the end user. This information would besupplemented with data based on diagnosis and recommendation protocolscreated in advance by the product retailer or product manufacturer.Alternatively, the beauty operator may elicit data from the user via aquestionnaire designed for such purpose. The operator would diagnoseskin conditions and make product recommendations, each of which can bemapped to a particular site or region of the treatment area of theuser's skin. The mapping may occur via a mouse guided screen pointer ora touch screen input device directly on the image of the desiredtreatment area captured by the imaging device.

Alternatively, or in combination with the beauty operator, the user(consumer or end user) may input data directly through an input devicesuch as a home computer, keyboard, touch screen, kiosk, cell phone orPDA. This may occur under the guidance of a beauty operator, or it mayoccur independently. The user would upload an image taken for example,with a digital camera, a cell phone, a PDA or a camera mounted on thehome computer or kiosk. The

With respect to the questionnaire used to elicit data from the usereither with the assistance of the beauty advisor or independently, thequestionnaire is designed to elicit both objective and subjectiveinformation. For example, the questionnaire may ask if the user's skinis oily, a relatively objective question. Alternatively, thequestionnaire may ask the user to what degree they believe their skin isoily, a relatively subjective question. The questionnaire may also askthe consumer what problems they perceive themselves to have and whatproblems they are most concerned with solving—also relatively subjectivequestions. The objective and subjective answers to the questions may beinput as data into the system where the computer software and associatedcomputing device is programmed to process the data and generate acustomized skin profile for that individual user showing various skinconditions and corresponding locations of the skin conditions in thecaptured image(s). The system is also programmed to generaterecommendations for treatment of the various skin conditions identifiedin the skin profile, including the perceived and/or actual problemconditions.

As described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/533,107and above, inputs for the means for generating a skin profile may begenerated by an analyzing device that is programmed for analyzing imagedata and generating a skin profile indicative of the conditions of thedesired treatment area of the user's skin based on the image data. Suchskin profile can be generated using various known algorithms. Examplesof these algorithms are described in greater detail by Japanese PatentApplication Publication No. 95-231883 entitled “Skin Surface AnalysisSystem and Skin Surface Analysis Method”; International PatentApplication Publication No. WO98/37811 entitled “Systems and Methods forthe Multispectral Imaging and Characterization of Skin Tissue”; and U.S.Pat. No. 5,016,173 entitled “Apparatus and Method for MonitoringVisually Accessible Surfaces of the Body,” the contents of which areincorporated in their entireties for all purposes. Commerciallyavailable skin imaging tools that can be used for diagnosing skindefects in the present invention include, for example, the VISIA®Complexion Analysis tools available from Canfield Scientific, Inc.(Fairfield, N.J.), thermal camera system, laser Doppler imaging system,translucency meter, mexameter, Mexameter® MX18 available from CKElectronic (Koln, Germany), the CR series Chroma Meters available fromKonica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A. (Ramsey, N.J.), theSIAMETRICS™ and COSMETRICS™ skin visualization and measurement systemsavailable from Astron Clinica Ltd. (Cambridge, United Kingdoms), and thelike. Additionally, the captured image and other data can be processedthrough a 3D face modeling program such as, for example, FaceGen(www.facegen.com) for mapping the individual's facial features, skindefects and treatment areas in 3D. The 3D mapped face will further allowmore precise location of treatment areas to create a ‘tailor made’skincare product to fit an individual's exact facial features anddimensions. The 3D mapping will also allow display of a 3D ‘virtual’head of the user that may be manipulated and used as a ‘drawing board’to facilitate creation and further refinement of the tailor made,individualized skincare product. The skin profile including suggestedactives and treatment areas can be adjusted by the user based onobjective or subjective desires. The user driven selection process mayalso include color choices or aesthetic patterns that may be provided tothe final mask to enhance the usability (i.e., locating treatmentareas), desirability (i.e., aesthetic appeal), engagement andinteractivity (i.e., playfulness of the user) of the product. If theseverity of the skin defects is represented by a numerical value, it maybe desirable to normalize such value based on the user's ethnic origin,age, geographic location, or any other factor that may have an impact onthe user's skin conditions.

Once the skin profile is generated and saved, it may be processed by anysuitable photo-editing and illustration software programs, such as AdobePhotoshop Element 4.0, Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, and the like, forcreating images to be outputted to a printing device, whichcorrespondingly print out one or more cosmetic delivery sheets that arecustomized for the user based on his or her unique skin conditions.Alternatively, a custom software program may be written for processingand printing cosmetic delivery sheets. Preferably, the printing deviceis a printer that contains multiple cartridges, each of which is filledwith a composition containing one or more skin benefit agents. Becausethe conventional thermal inkjet printing mechanism may produce a hightemperature environment at the print head during ink discharging step,which may degrade or destabilize certain skin benefit agents, it ispreferred that the printing in the present invention is carried outusing a heatless printing mechanism. For example, a pressure-driven inkjet can be used, in which pressure is created on demand by apiezoelectric transducer to change the shape of an internal diaphragm inthe inkjet print head and therefore force droplets of the skin benefitagents contained in the ink tank to be deposited onto the substrate.Suitable printing devices for the practice of the present inventioninclude, for example, the Epson Workforce series, preferably EpsonWorkforce 30, the Spectra piezoelectric printers from Fujifilm Dimatix,the RISO HC5500 inkjet printer, and the like. Alternatively, when theskin benefit agents to be delivered are thermally stable or relativelyless susceptible to thermal degradation, conventional thermal inkjetprinters or low-heat inkjet printers can be used for practice of thepresent invention.

By using the above-described heatless printing process, the presentinvention successfully achieves delivery of multiple skin benefit agentswith little or no reduction in their biological activities. First, theheatless printing process causes little or no degradation of the skinbenefit agents. Second, certain skin benefit agents that are known tointerfere with each other's biological activities can be placed intoseparate cartridges and deposited onto the substrate as separatedroplets. More importantly, the droplets of such interfering skinbenefit agents are sufficiently small in size that they can be arrangedin a scattered manner. Consequently, such skin benefit agents canprovide simultaneous treatments to the same region, but without havingto be mixed with each other.

The cosmetic delivery sheets so printed could be used anywhere on theface or body skin to predetermined areas for delivery of ingredients viaa sheet material mask or patch or similar system. The exact size andshape of the cosmetic sheet will depend upon the intended use andproduct characteristics. The cosmetic sheets will have sufficientflexibility, and a size and shape adapted to conform to the desiredtreatment area of the user's skin. In a particularly preferred, but notnecessary, embodiment of the present invention, the cosmetic sheet is afacial mask adapted to conform to facial features. It will be understoodthat a variety of shapes and sizes may be accommodated according to theinvention. Such a cosmetic sheet may include a flexible substrate thatis formed of, preferably but not necessarily, water-soluble or non-watersoluble materials, such as sugar or polysaccharides, collagen, andwater-soluble film-forming polymers. The substrate contains multipleisolate, discrete regions, while at least two of such regions areimprinted with different skin benefit agents for treating different skinconditions according to the skin profile of the user.

Suitable skin benefit agents can be used in the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to: anti-wrinkle or skin-tightening agents;anti-aging agents; moisturizing agents; skin-whitening or depigmentationagents; anti-inflammatory agents; anti-acne agents; DNA repair agents;skin lipid barrier repair agents; anti-cellulite agents; wound-healingagents; stretch-mark/scar removing agents; plumping agents; hair growthretardation agents; hair growth stimulating agents; dark cycle reductionor de-puffing agents; collagen synthesis or blood circulation enhancingagents; antioxidants; sebum-controlling agents; and pore-minimizingagents. Exemplary anti-wrinkle agents include, but are not limited to,acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl oligopeptide, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl,benzylamide diacetate, and the like. Exemplary skin-tightening agentsinclude, but are not limited to, algae extract, pullulan, sweet almondseed extract, carbomer, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyltetrapeptide-7, Quercus suber extract, and the like. Exemplaryanti-aging agents include, but are not limited to, teprenone, trisodiumresveratrol triphosphate, Polygonum cuspidatum root extract, wheyprotein, and the like. Exemplary moisturizing agents include, but arenot limited to, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea, trehalose, and thelike. Exemplary skin-whitening or depigmentation agents include, but arenot limited to, ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, aminopropylascorbyl phosphate, mulberry root extract, Scutellaria baicalensisextract, grape extract, ferulic acid, hinokitol, and the like. Exemplaryanti-inflammatory agents include, but are not limited to, spike mossextract, seal whip extract, Polygonum cuspidatum root extract, and thelike. Exemplary anti-acne agents include, but are not limited to,salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactobionic acid, and the like. ExemplaryDNA repair agents include, but are not limited to, C1-C8 alkyltetrahydroxycyclohexanoate, micrococcus lysate, bifida ferment lysate,and the like. Exemplary skin lipid barrier repair agents include, butare not limited to, phytosphingosine, linoleic acid, cholesterol, andthe like. Exemplary anti-cellulite agents include, but are not limitedto, Coleus forskohlii root extract, Magnolia grandiflora bark extract,Nelubo nucifera leaf extract, and the like. Exemplary wound-healingagents include, but are not limited to, Mimosa tenuiflora bark extract,soybean protein, and the like. Exemplary plumping agents include, butare not limited to, Saccharomyces/xylinum black tea ferment, Anemarrhenaasphodeloides root extract, sodium hyaluronate, and the like. Exemplaryhair growth retardation agents include, but are not limited to, ursolicacid, phytosphingosine, Boswella serrata extract, and the like.Exemplary hair growth stimulating agents include, but are not limitedto, Serenoa serrulata fruit extract, licorice extract, acetylglucosamine, and the like. Exemplary dark circle reduction orde-puffying agents include, but are not limited to, hesperidin methylchalcone, dipeptide-2, Passiflora incarnate flower extract, linoleicacid, isolinoleic acid, and the like. Exemplary collagen synthesis orblood circulation enhancing agents include, but are not limited to,arginine, Ascophyllum nodosum extract, Asparagopsis armata extract,caffeine, and the like. Exemplary anti-oxidants include, but are notlimited to, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, grape seed extract, green tealeaf extract, and the like.

The skin benefit agents as described hereinabove can be formulated intoan ink formulation that is compatible with the printing device of thepresent invention. Such ink formulation may be an aqueous solution or anoil-in-water emulsion. When all the skin benefit agents to be deliveredare water-soluble, it is preferred that the ink formulation is aqueous.When some of the skin benefit agents are oil-soluble, the inkformulation is preferably a micronized emulsion (suspension) containingan oil phase in form of micronized oil droplets dispersed in acontinuous aqueous phase. Alternatively, non-water soluble skin benefitagents can be formulated in the solvent based ink formulation toovercome the solubility issue of the active with water based inkformulation.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram representing the overall concept systems andmethods of the invention. The first box is the step of creatingcustomizable skincare products, i.e., products that can be adjusted forindividual users. The second step is to acquire an image of the user.The third step is skin evaluation. The fourth step involves the cosmeticproduct creation software. The fifth step involves the on-site oroff-site cosmetic printer. And the last step is to finish the product.Each step is described in further detail in the following paragraphs.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing further details of the imageacquisition step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1. First, lighting,camera(s) and other equipment is positioned to capture an image. Thenthe image is captured. The image may be captured with either a high enddigital camera or video camera, or just a consumer grade camera, suchas, for example, a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera. Preferably,more than one image of the user is captured, each from a different anglesuch that an analysis can be accomplished, for example, of the entireface. Along with the image(s), positioning information is acquired withrespect to the captured image(s)—this may be accomplished on a pixel orother basis. The acquired or established positioning information on theimage may be analyzed to determine surface topography, for mappinglandmarks (e.g., the corners of the mouth or eyes), and eventuallymapping the loci of the problem and/or treatment areas. The image isdigitized in two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphic environment.Finally, the electronic image is displayed.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing further details of one embodiment ofthe skin evaluation step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1. Skinconcerns addressed could be, for example, lines and wrinkles, age spots,dark circles, deep lines, sagging skin, etc. The skin evaluation mayfollow one of two paths. Optional path A involves evaluation by a skinspecialist (also referred to herein as a beauty operator), such as, forexample, a dermatologist, a beauty advisor, a cosmetician, adermatologist or a sales associate associated with cosmetic productsales or recommendation in, for example, a beauty counter environment ina brick-and-mortar type retail store or online shopping venue. A skinquestionnaire is used to guide the evaluation. The evaluation identifiesparticular skin concerns A, B, C, etc. and identifies the skin areas ofthe concerns. Path A results in a skin evaluation summary.Alternatively, path B involves a consumer interactive system. This alsoincludes a skin questionnaire that guides the evaluation to identifyskin concerns A, B, C, etc. and identify the skin areas of concerns.Path B similarly results in a skin evaluation summary.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing further details of the skin evaluationsummary and the cosmetic product creation software step of the overallsystem shown in FIG. 1. The skin evaluation summary includes the skinconcerns A, B, C, etc. The cosmetic product creation software receivesthe skin evaluation summary. The cosmetic product creation software isprogrammed to generate skin active suggestions and selections. It isfurther programmed to generate skin active concentration suggestions andrecommendations. The cosmetic product creation software is programmed togenerate suggestions and selections of cosmetics for a targeted skinarea. The software is further programmed to generate substratesuggestions and selections. It creates a composite of all layers of skinconcerns. It provides the user with the opportunity to give finalapproval for the suggestions and recommendations. Once approval isgiven, the suggestions and recommendations are sent to the cosmeticprinter, either on-site or off-site, to create the custom treatmentproduct.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing further details of the on-site oroff-site printer step of the overall system shown in FIG. 1. Theprinter, either on-site or off-site, receives the suggestions andrecommendations from the cosmetic product creation software. The printeralso receives the position information from the acquired image of theuser. Software associated with the printer confirms the substrateselections, the skin active ink selections, the skin activeconcentration levels and the targeted skin areas (locations). It thenprints the final product. If the printer is on-site, the final productis provided directly to the user. If the printer is off-site, the finalproduct is shipped to the user, or the user is encouraged to return tothe point-of-sale (retail location) to pick up the printed mask—i.e., itencourages a second visit to the store. The final product is, forexample, a full face mask as described in the following paragraphs.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a facial mask 10 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The facial mask 10 containsmultiple discrete regions 12, 14, 16, and 18, which are isolated fromone another. Based on the particular skin conditions of the user,regions 12 are imprinted with at least one sebum controlling agent forreducing the oiliness at the T-zone section of the user's face; regions14 are imprinted with at least one wrinkle reduction or skin-tighteningagent for reducing the fine lines and wrinkles at the corners of theuser's eyes and mouth; regions 16 are imprinted with at least one darkcircle reduction or de-puffing agent; and region 18 is imprinted with atleast one anti-cellulite agent. Of course, the discrete regionsthemselves, may also be customized based on a skin profiling analysis.Customizations include size, shape and number of discrete regions.Preferably, but not necessarily, different regions on the mask 10 may bemarked with different colors for easy alignment with different facialfeatures for which the skin benefit agents are intended. FIG. 2 is aschematic representation of a facial mask 10 according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the region 14 of FIG. 1. Five differenttypes of skin benefit agents are printed thereon, which include awrinkle reduction or skin-tightening agent 20, an anti-aging agent 22,an antioxidant agent 24, a moisturizing agent 26, and a plumping agent28. These skin benefit agents are deposited onto the substrate asseparate droplets, which are scattered among one another but withoutbeing mixed with one another. In this manner, such skin benefit agentscan provide simultaneous treatment to the corners of the user's eyes andmouth with minimum or no interference with one another.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, while gelcosmetic sheets suitable for use in the present invention, are naturallytacky, a cosmetic sheet comprised of paper or a textile may require thepresence of a cosmetically acceptable adhesive layer associated with thefirst surface of the support to enhance adherence to the skin. Theadhesion of the sheet to the skin may occur via an adhesive compoundassociated with the surface of the sheet or it may be provided in theform of a gel or liquid, such as water, which moistens the sheet whichthen clings to skin. The user may also apply the mask to pre-moistenedskin. It also is contemplated that a consumer could introduce a liquidactivator to the sheet or to specific areas of the sheet which couldserve to aid in adhesion of the sheet to the skin, to activate theimpregnated formulation, or both. The cosmetic sheet may also beprovided with a supporting sheet which can be removed, e.g. peeled away,before the sheet is applied to the skin.

The cosmetic sheet may be formed of any thin, porous, flexible absorbentmaterial, including woven and non-woven fabrics, including felts, paper,natural fibers, synthetic fibers, elastic blends or a mixture thereof.Non-limiting examples include cotton, linen, rayon, thermoplastics, andcellulosics. The sheet material may be a water-soluble material, such assugar or polysaccharides, collagen, and water-soluble film-formingpolymers. The sheet material may also comprise a gel, such as ahydrogel, comprised of, for example, agarose or a water-solublelow-substituted cellulose ether which may include methyl cellulose,hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylhydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylethyl cellulose, orcarboxymethyl cellulose. Non-woven fabrics are especially preferred fromthe viewpoints of cost, productivity and aesthetic feel. Examples ofpreferred non-woven materials include, but are not limited to, naturaland synthetic felts, rice paper or cloth, and bamboo cloth. In apreferred but not necessary embodiment of the present invention, boththe substrate and the skin benefit agents of the cosmetic sheet arecompletely water-soluble, such as sugar or collagen, so upon applicationof water or like liquid activator, the cosmetic sheet softens andconforms to the skin, and subsequently, the entire sheet is absorbed bythe skin surface without having to be removed. Commercially availablecosmetic sheets suitable for practice of the present invention include,for example, the sugar-based Frosting Sheets from Kopykake (Torrance,Calif.), the Matricol® Collagen Sheets from Dr. Suwelack Skin & HealthCare AG (Billerbeck, Germany), and the 3M™ Transparent 2.6 milPolyethylene Medical Tape 9830.

Example 1 Targeted Delivery of Caffeine Power

An aqueous solution containing caffeine power was prepared by mixing thefollowing ingredients together:

Ingredients wt % Deionized water QS Butylene glycol 15.00 Caffeine 5.00FD&C Blue No. 1 0.04 Phenoxyethanol 0.50 Total 100.00

The FD&C Blue No. 1 color was provided to mark regions with caffeinepower printed thereon. The aqueous solution as described hereinabove wasplaced into a refillable ink cartridge of an Epson Workforce 30 inkjetprinter, which was in turn connected to a personal computer installedwith Photoshop Element 4.0. Three different types of substrate sheets,including a sugar-based Frosting Sheet from Kopykake (Torrance, Calif.),a Matricol® Collagen Sheet from Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health Care AG(Billerbeck, Germany), and a 3M™ Transparent 2.6 mil PolyethyleneMedical Tape 9830 were fed to the paper tray of the Epson Workforce 30inkjet printer, and the caffeine-containing aqueous solution wassuccessfully printed onto the substrate sheets by the inkjet printer.The printed substrate sheets were then applied to the skin of a user fortargeted delivery of caffeine as a skin benefit agent.

Example 2 Targeted Delivery of Salicylic Acid

An aqueous solution containing salicylic acid was prepared by mixing thefollowing ingredients together:

Ingredients wt % Deionized water QS Isopentyldiol 40.00 Salicylic acid1.00 FD&C Yellow No. 5 0.04 Phenoxyethanol 0.50 Total 100.00

The FD&C Yellow No. 5 color was provided to mark regions with salicylicacid (SA) printed thereon. The aqueous solution as described hereinabovewas placed into a refillable ink cartridge of an Epson Workforce 30inkjet printer, which was in turn connected to a personal computerinstalled with Photoshop Element 4.0. Three different types of substratesheets, including a sugar-based Frosting Sheet from Kopykake (Torrance,Calif.), a Matricol® Collagen Sheet from Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health CareAG (Billerbeck, Germany), and a 3M™ Transparent 2.6 mil PolyethyleneMedical Tape 9830 were fed to the paper tray of the Epson Workforce 30inkjet printer, and the SA-containing aqueous solution was successfullyprinted onto the substrate sheets by the inkjet printer. The printedsubstrate sheets were then applied to the skin of a user for targeteddelivery of SA as a skin benefit agent.

Example 3 Targeted Delivery of Argireline Solution NP (AcetylHexapeptide-8)

An aqueous solution containing Argireline Solution NP was prepared bymixing the following ingredients together:

Ingredients wt % Deionized water QS Argireline Solution NP 62.50Purified Water: 99.35 wt % Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: 0.05 wt %Phenoxyethanol: 0.50 wt % Potassium Sorbate: 0.10 wt % 1,3 ButyleneGlycol 15.00 PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone 0.10 (KF-6011) CaprylylGlycol 0.30 (Lexguard O) Potassium Sorbate 0.09 FD&C Red No. 4 (1% AqSoln W.B.G) 0.20 Citric Acid 10% Solution 0.21 Total 100.00

The aqueous solution as described hereinabove was placed into arefillable ink cartridge of an Epson Workforce 30 inkjet printer, whichwas in turn connected to a personal computer installed with PhotoshopElement 4.0. Three different types of substrate sheets, including asugar-based Frosting Sheet from Kopykake (Torrance, Calif.), a Matricol®Collagen Sheet from Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health Care AG (Billerbeck,Germany), and a 3M™ Transparent 2.6 mil Polyethylene Medical Tape 9830were fed to the paper tray of the Epson Workforce 30 inkjet printer, andthe Argirelene-containing aqueous solution was successfully printed ontothe substrate sheets by the inkjet printer. The printed substrate sheetswere then applied to the skin of a user for targeted delivery ofArgirelene (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) as a skin benefit agent.

Note that color is optional in the foregoing examples.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing further details of two alternativeembodiments of the skin evaluation step of the overall system shown inFIG. 1 involving computerized skin diagnosis. The flow diagram shows 4alternate paths from left to right: 1) Automated Skin Analysis System(fully automatic), 2) Skin Specialist using Skin Analyzers(semi-automatic), 3) Skin Specialist using Questionnaire, and 4)Consumer Interactive System using Questionnaire. Note that paths 3 and4, the two paths on the right side of the flow diagram illustrated inFIG. 9 showing the ‘manual’ or non-automated skin diagnosis, are thesame as the two paths shown in the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 1and previously described herein. The additional embodiments are paths 1and 2 on the left side of the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 9. Paths1 and 2 on the left side in FIG. 9 show alternative paths for fully‘automated’ or ‘automatic’ computerized skin diagnosis (path 1, the pathfurthest to the left) and semi-automated or semi-automatic computerizedskin diagnosis (path 2, the path second from the left). The fullyautomated skin analysis path has a first step of providing an automateskin analysis system, e.g., a system that may include imaging and/orsensors and/or probes for gathering data. A second step involvesautomated identification of skin concerns A, B, C, etc. A third stepinvolves identifying skin area of concerns. The path then results in askin evaluation summary. In the semi-automatic path second from theleft, a skin specialist is involved as well as skin analyzers (e.g.,equipment such as imagers, sensors and probes) that are manipulated bythe skin expert. The skin specialist manipulates the skin analyzers toidentify the skin concerns A, B, C, etc. and identify the skin area ofconcerns. This path also results in a skin evaluation summary. No matterwhat path is utilized, automatic, semi-automatic, manual/skin specialistor manual/consumer interactive, the result is a skin evaluation summarythat can be entered into the cosmetic product creation software tocreate the custom cosmetic product.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance withpreferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A system for targeted and individualized delivery of multiple skinbenefit agents to the skin of a user comprising: an imaging device forcapturing an image of a predetermined treatment area of the user's skin;means for generating a skin profile indicative of the conditions of thepredetermined treatment area of the user's skin; and a printing devicecommunicatively connected with said analyzing device for printing one ormore cosmetic delivery sheets, wherein said cosmetic delivery sheets arearranged and constructed for conforming to the predetermined treatmentarea of the user's skin, wherein each of said cosmetic delivery sheetscomprises a substrate with multiple isolate, discrete regions, whereinat least two of the isolate, discrete regions are imprinted withdifferent skin benefit agents for treating different skin conditions ofthe predetermined treatment area according to the skin profile generatedby the means for generating, and wherein the means for generating a skinprofile includes computer software associated with a computing devicewherein the computer software and associated computing device areprogrammed to receive data about an individual user, process the dataand generate a customized skin profile for that user showing variousskin conditions and corresponding locations of the skin conditions inthe captured images.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data isreceived in the form of inputs from at least one or a combination ofautomated data imaging or collection devices, commercially availableskin imaging or analysis tools and an input device.
 3. The system ofclaim 2 wherein the input device is at least one or a combination of akeyboard, a touch screen, a computer, a personal digital assistant, acell phone, a smart phone, a point-of-sale terminal, a kiosk and aworkstation.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the data is input via theinput device by at least one of a beauty operator, a purchaser and aproduct end user.